FG, EU Partner to Advance Vaccine Access, Reproductive Health Across West Africa

FG, EU Partner to Advance Vaccine Access, Reproductive Health Across West Africa
Gautier Mignot praised the collaboration as an example of a new model of cooperation
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu described the agreements as a reflection of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to global health partnership and sustainable economic growth

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have signed three landmark agreements designed to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing, expand vaccine access, and enhance reproductive health systems across West Africa.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the signing took place during the Nigeria–EU Health Investment Forum held in Abuja, with top government officials, EU representatives, and development partners in attendance.

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Speaking at the event, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, described the agreements as a reflection of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to global health partnership and sustainable economic growth.

“This partnership embodies our shared aspiration for a healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous world through the EU–Nigeria collaboration,” the Minister said.

Bagudu noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to foster innovation, job creation, and industrial competitiveness through public-private collaboration.

He referenced findings from the World Bank–IFC Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report (2025), which identified Nigeria as a major growth hub for pharmaceutical investment and manufacturing.

FG, EU Partner to Advance Vaccine Access, Reproductive Health Across West Africa

“Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing subsector holds enormous potential for technology transfer, value addition, and employment generation,” Bagudu said. “Our government remains focused on policies that encourage private-sector investment and long-term economic transformation.”

Highlighting the country’s long-term economic vision, the minister added that the Nigeria Agenda 2050 targets a $1 trillion economy by 2030, anchored on private-sector participation and bold reforms that promote macroeconomic stability.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated exceptional courage by undertaking the difficult but necessary reforms to put our economy on the right track,” he added.

Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health (Office of the Vice President), Dr. Uju Rochas, hailed the agreements as “a turning point in Nigeria’s health investment journey.”

“Nigeria is open for health investment, innovation, and impact,” she said. “The President has declared that our health transformation will not be driven by aid or dependency, but by ownership, accountability, and innovation made in Nigeria, for Nigerians, and by Nigerians.”

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, also praised the collaboration as an example of a new model of cooperation under the EU Global Gateway Initiative, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to supporting Africa’s health resilience and local production capacities.

The Three Agreements Signed

1. ELM-N – Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria

2. QUALIMEDS – Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards

3. SRHR-WA – Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights in West Africa

These agreements build upon the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) launched in 2023, which aims to achieve 70% domestic production of essential medicines by 2030.

The initiative is further supported by fiscal incentives, including the 2024 Executive Order that waives tariffs and VAT on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials, to stimulate local production and attract foreign investment.